Life really should be one long journey of joy for children who are born with a world of wealth at their tiny feet.

But experts on psychological research now believe that silver spoons can leave a bitter taste. If suicide (自杀)statistics are a sign of happiness, then the rich are a miserable lot. Figures show that it is the rich who most often do away with themselves.

Dr. Robert Coles, an internationally famous doctor, is the word's top expert on the influence of money on children. He has written a well-received book on the subject, The Privileged Ones, and his research shows that too much money in the family can cause as many problems as too little. “Obviously there are certain advantages to being rich,” says the 53-year-old doctor, “such as better health, education and future work expectation. But most important is the quality of family-life. Money can't buy love.”

It can buy a lot of other things, though, and that's where the trouble starts. Rich kids have so much to choose from that they often become confused. Their parents' over favoring can make them spoiled. They tend to travel more than other children, from home to home and country to country, which often makes them feel restless.

“But privileged children do have a better sense of their positions in the world,” adds Mr. Coles, “and they are more self-confident.”

Today's rich parents perhaps have realized that their riches can be more of a burden than a favor to their children. So they do their best to ensure that their families are as rich in love as they are in money.

1.What does the underlined word “silver spoons” in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A. Long journeys B. Tiny feet

C. Great wealth D. Kitchen tools

2.Which of the following is true according to Paragraph 1?

A. Life is one long journey of joy for rich children

B. Many rich people often suffer from unhappiness

C. Poor people never feel miserable in life

D. Rich people are happier than poor people

3.What is the book The Privileged Ones most probably about?

A. How money affects the wealthy people

B. How rich people deal with their money

C. Why the rich should help the poor

D. What are the advantages to being rich

4.According to Dr. Robert Coles, what is the most important to guarantee a happy life?

A. Good health B. Good education

C. Good jobs D. Good family-life

UK 5 Days

Today:

A chilly (寒冷的) and frosty start for many this morning, followed by a day of sunshine and local showers. The showers will be slow moving and heavy at times, particularly in the east with a risk of thunder.

Tonight:

Showers will ease this evening and clear spells (一段时间) will develop, causing a widespread frost. However, rain will push into the northwest during the early hours, turning heavy at times.

Friday:

Rain, locally heavy, will continue southwestwards through the day with strong winds. Elsewhere, it will be bright with some sunshine.

UK outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Rain across central parts on Saturday will ease and move northwards. Largely dry elsewhere with some misty sunshine. A mixture of sunshine and showers on Sunday and Monday, turning warmer.

Updated at 04:04 on Thur. 31 Mar.

UK 6-30 days

UK outlook for Tuesday 5 Apr. to Wednesday 13 Apr.:

A generally unsettled picture is likely next week, with showers or longer spells of rain affecting the majority of the UK, but with some drier and sunnier interludes (间歇). Temperatures will probably be around normal for most, but central and southeastern areas may see some warmer air moving up from the continent at times. The week after next will probably continue to be changeable with showers or longer spells of rain crossing the UK, but with some brighter and drier interludes in between. Temperatures may become rather low across the north and northwest later next week.

Updated at 12:36 on Wed. 30 Mar.

UK outlook for Thursday 14 Apr. to Saturday 30 Apr.:

It is likely to be changeable with a mixture of sunny spells and showers. However, some longer drier spells are also likely, particularly in northwestern areas. Overall temperatures will remain around normal for the time of year but with some warmer spells developing at times.

Updated at 12:37 on Wed.30 Mar.

1.The weather of tonight is similar to Friday in that_________

A. it has strong winds. B. it has frosts.

C. it has heavy rain. D. it is mainly sunny.

2.From Saturday to Monday, it may be rainy in the _______.

A. east B. west

C. south D. north

3.What will the weather be like in Britain from April 5 to 13?

A. It will be quite dry. B. It will be rather cold.

C. It will be generally rainy. D. It will be hot in the north.

4.Which part of Britain may have little rain in the second half of April?

A. The southeastern areas. B. The northeastern areas.

C. The northwestern areas. D. The southwestern areas.

Many of us remember being in awe(敬畏) when we saw cloned dinosaurs running wild in the film Jurassic Park. And the idea of using technology to revive(恢复) extinct species has long fascinated not only writers and directors, but scientists as well.

According to The Telegraph, woolly mammoths(长毛猛犸象), which featured in the popular Ice Age animated movie series, “may walk the earth once more” now that scientists have taken another step toward realizing a long-held dream—recreating their DNA.

Mammoths became extinct around 10,000 years ago. However, since the discovery of near-perfect preserved remains in Arctic permafrost(北极冻土带) in May 2013, a variety of research studies have been carried out since.

Geneticists from Harvard University analyzed DNA from the remains, looking for genes which separated mammoths from elephants, such as hairiness and ear size. They then used the results to reproduce exact copies of 14 mammoth genes. “It is the first time that mammoth genes have been alive—although so far it has only been done in the lab,” George Church, lead researcher of the project, told the Sunday Times.

Church then used a new technique which allows scientists to edit DNA carefully, replacing sections of elephant DNA with the mammoth genes. So “we now have functioning elephant cells with mammoth DNA in them,” he said.

However, Church ruled out the possibility of bringing the mammoths back to life via cloning from frozen remains. He said he “preferred to focus on rebuilding the full mammoth genome(基因组) by analyzing DNA from preserved remains and putting it into the cells of its closest living relative – the Asian elephant,” reported The Telegraph.

Church argued that the return of the woolly mammoth—or rather, the return of something very similar—could help bring back fragile(脆弱的) ecosystems. However, some scientists believe that bringing back the mammoth would be unethical.

Professor Alex Greenwood, an expert on ancient DNA, said: “We may face the extinction of African and Asian elephants. Why bring back another elephant from extinction when we cannot even keep the ones that are not extinct around?” he told the Sunday Times. “What is the message? We can be as irresponsible with the environment as we want. Then we’ll just clone things back?”

“Money would be better spent focusing on conserving what we do have than spending it on an animal that has been extinct for thousands of years,” he said.

1.We can learn from the article that ______.

A. cloned mammoths followed cloned dinosaurs to get revived

B. the technology to revive mammoth genes is already mature

C. George Church and his colleagues tried to reproduce mammoth DNA

D. Church and his team managed to list all the genes that separate mammoths from elephants

2.According to Church, what is the significance of his study?

A. It could help prevent the extinction of the Asian elephant.

B. It could help people better tell elephant DNA from mammoth genes.

C. It could help bring back some extinct species and save fragile ecosystems.

D. It could help bring mammoths back to life via cloning from frozen remains.

3.The underlined word “unethical” in Paragraph 7 is closest in meaning to ______.

A. unacceptable B. misled

C. impractical D. illegal

4.According to the article, Professor Alex Greenwood believes that _______.

A. there is no need to worry about the extinction of African and Asian elephants at present

B. it’s necessary to bring back species that are beneficial to human beings from extinction

C. the return of the woolly mammoth would help to balance ecosystems

D. it’s more important to protect present species than to bring back extinct ones

In many parts of the world,cars play an important role in daily life and many societies would not exist without them.So the idea that in 20 years’ time, no one will own cars may be hard to believe.But this is the prediction made by a team of transport researchers who are taken seriously, not only by government but also by ear manufacturers.

The Human Science and Advanced Technology Institute at Loughborough in the UK is part of an international research program.The team there believes that by 2020 all cars will be computerized,which will mean much saving,no accidents and better use of roads.The superintelligent car of the 21st century will drive itself, and it will not be owned by one individual.Instead,we will have a choice of cars and change them as frequently as we change our clothing.

According to Dr.David Davis,who leads the research team,these predictions are based on the rising cost of the car culture,which had blocked up our cities,polluted our air, and caused more deaths than both world wars put together.

Davis says,cars will be fitted with some intelligent devices to regulate the distance between one car and another.The car will automatically speed up,or slow down,to match the speed of the car in front.Computers are much safer drivers than people,so cars in a road train will be able to drive much closer together than cars driven by people.

By 2010,Dr.David Davis believes,car technology will give motorists a clear view of the road,whatever the weather conditions,by projecting an image of the road ahead on to the car’s windscreen.And by 2020,cars will travel in_convoy,_linked to each other electronically.Cars will be connected by an electronic tow bar to the car in front to form “roadtrains”.“The front vehicle in such a train burns the normal amount.”says Davis.“But all the others in the train would burn about ten percent of the normal amount,and so produce about ten percent of the pollution.”

1.Which of the following will be the characteristic of the cars of 2020?

A. The car will speed up out of control.

B. We will own as many cars as we want.

C. All cars will be driven by computers.

D. Cars will produce more pollution than present ones.

2.The leader of the research team believes that the present car culture will change because________.

A. cars play a very important role in daily life

B. many societies would stop functioning without cars

C. cars should not be owned by one individual

D. it causes many deaths to human society

3.The expression closest in meaning to the phrase “in convoy” in the last paragraph is________.

A. in line B. sidelong

C. side by side D. shoulder to shoulder

4.What will happen if cars are joined to each other electro- nically in 2020?

A. Motorists will get a clear view of the road.

B. There will be less pollution caused by car.

C. The weather condition will not have effect on motorists.

D. All trains will bum less fuel than present.

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